The current imbroglio concerning the attempts by Prime Minister Teresa May to secure passage of a Brexit deal through the House of Commons has raised a number of important issues and phenomena.  One of these most intriguing of these issues is the de facto break down of the authority of executive authority of the cabinet over the legislature. 

Traditionally party discipline has prevailed whereby the backbench falls in behind the prime minister and his or her cabinet.  Even during periods of minority government, such as between 1974 and 1979, party discipline still prevailed in the House of Commons so that there was still relatively stable government. 

This current 2019 malaise encompasses not only the ruling Conservative Party but also the opposition Labour Party where the majority of its MPs are hostile to the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn due to his far left ideology.  In the case of the Conservative Party the breakdown of party discipline is due to the division of this party into three loose camps when it comes to Brexit.

These three loose camps can be identified as: 1/hardline Brexiters, 2/ Remainers and 3/pro-deal Brexiters led by Prime Minister May.  The Brexiters and the Remainers within the Tory Party are ironically united in their belief that by their both scuttling a deal being done on Brexit that they can achieve their respective and opposing objectives.

The sad situation will be that unless a revamped version of Prime Minister May’s Brexit deal is passed by the House of Commons then the hardline Brexiters will prevail at the cost of Britain losing access the European Union (EU) trading bloc.  The cost in jobs which will be lost and diminished British Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of this development will be immense so as to pave the way for the election of a hard-left Corbyn government.   

Ironically it has been Jeremy Corbyn who has offered a potential escape clause or life-line to the May government by advocating that a customs union be maintained by Britain with the EU.  Mr. Corbyn has so far refused to identify as to which camp he belongs - the Brexit camp or the Remain camp.  Instead the British Opposition Leader has sought to place himself in a compromise position so as to avoid taking a stand while encouraging division among the Tories.

Regardless of how and why Jeremy Corbyn has formulated his stance, his policy position of reaching a customs union with the EU actually offers Britain the best option of maintaining socio-economic cohesion.  In effect both Prime Minister May and Opposition Leader Corbyn are in the Remain camp.

Consequently, instead of primarily focusing on re-uniting the Tory Party over Brexit, Prime Minister May should reach out to the Opposition Leader to take him up on his proposal that a customs union be reached by Britain with the EU.  Similarly, Jeremy Corbyn could be a statesman by offering Labour Party support to the government for such a customs union. 

Tragically, the current situation is that both the prime minister and the opposition leader are now accusing the other of acting in bad faith so as to blame the other should a ‘No Deal’ Brexit ensue.  However, history will blame these two leaders – Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn- for failing to reach an agreement ensuring a customs union and a frictionless border between Britain and the EU. 

Why A Blame Government Must be Avoided

These two leaders will be blamed because a deal between them was (and still is) within their grasp to have saved Britain from socio-economic catastrophe should this nation be excluded from access to the EU common market. 

Furthermore, the House of Commons on an inter-party basis can still ensure that an agreement with the EU is passed ensuring a customs union and a frictionless border should the respective leaders of the Conservative and Labour parties fail to grasp the nettle.